In a sad week for Australia we have lost another icon, Peter Brock, King of the Mountain was killed in a car accident during a rally.

Quote:Motor racing legend Peter Brock dead

September 08, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP

MOTOR racing legend Peter Brock has been killed in an accident while taking part in the Targa West rally in Western Australia, motor sport officials have confirmed.
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) said in a statement the accident occurred about 1.50pm (AEST).

Sixty-one-year-old Brock's co-driver, believed to Mick Hone, has been taken to hospital in a stable condition.

CAMS said it would conduct a full investigation into the incident.

In the meantime, CAMS and event officials were working with the relevant civil authorities.

"On behalf of the motor sport community, CAMS offers its sincere sympathy to Peter's family and many friends," the statement said.

The circumstances of the accident remain unclear.

The Targa West takes place over four days and is divided into two categories, competition and challenge, the latter catering for relatively standard specification road cars.

The rally began in Perth yesterday.

Brock, from Melbourne, was married with three children.

In a stellar career, he became Australia's best known motor sport personality and a dominant figure in the sport.
Brock won the Bathurst 1000, Australia's most prominent domestic motorsport event, nine times through the 1970s and 80s.

He won six Bathurst 1000 wins in seven years, including his victory in the 1979 event, which he won by a record six laps.

He retired from full-time driving in 1997.

Since 1997, he had made two return visits to Bathurst in 2002 and 2004 and returned to top-level touring car racing as a team owner of "Team Brock" in 2002 in the V8 Supercar category. A year later he sold his share in the team to Kees Weel.

In recent years, he occasionally competed in various motorsport events such as the Targa Tasmania.

Thousands of mourners inside and outside St Paul's Cathedral heard several tributes to Brock, but none was more moving than that from daughter Alexandra.

Brocky, she said, was like all fathers.

"He could piss you off; he could rub you the wrong way," a sobbing Alexandra, 23, said.

"But he could also make you feel so special and so happy. He was the single most genuine person I have ever come across."

Prayers were said for the two women closest to Brock - girlfriend Julie Bamford and former long-time partner Bev Brock, who was described by one mourner as Australia's "first lady for 25 years".

They sat in the same front pew, separated by only a few people, before following the coffin into the brilliant spring afternoon where about 2000 onlookers applauded Australia's greatest touring car driver.

Brock fans from across Australia were granted privileged access to St Paul's for a state funeral with a difference.

Brock, a nine-time Bathurst winner, died when his high-powered rally car struck a tree near Perth on September 8.

Navigator and friend Mick Hone, who suffered broken ribs, said after the service he was missing Brock.

"He was a great bloke," Hone said.

"Whatever happens to me injury wise, that will heal, but you know, dealing with not ever being able to have fun with Peter again, that's going to be something I have to work on for a long time."

Brock's former race partner and commentator Neil Crompton spoke of a man with limitless energy and optimism.

He may not have always articulated his love for his family but they were foremost in his mind, Crompton said.

Brock hated funerals and the "halo of sadness over them".

"There was absolutely no room for misery or the negative in Peter's world, so we'd all better straighten up right now," Crompton said.

Brock's spiritual adviser Eric Dowker told mourners, "Peter lived his life like he raced - always flat out, looking in front of him and excited for what the next moment would bring.

"Peter's life was about touching people on the inside, a person who would talk to anyone at any time, help anyone at any time and share his passion with us all the time."

Dr Dowker attracted controversy in the 1980s for his role in helping Brock change his life.

It was Dr Dowker who helped with the so-called Energy Polarizer, which used magnets and crystals that Brock was convinced would lead to better engine performance.

Lewis Brock said his brother was to be admired.

"He represented a shining example that people can achieve their dreams no matter what their material circumstance and upbringing," Mr Brock said. "There are no barriers except the limitations we place on ourselves."

Racing driver Craig Lowndes paid tribute to the man who was instrumental in his career.

"I grew up wanting to be a Peter Brock and I still do," Lowndes said.

"I'm nowhere near where Peter finished his career.

He said the service was a fitting tribute to his mate and mentor.

"It's just amazing to see how many people have come to see and say goodbye," he said. "He'll be a long time remembered, that's for sure."

Thousands of fans clapped as the cortege left the city.

Alexandra Brock had placed her father's helmet on his coffin as it lay in a hearse carrying the number plate "BROCKY".

Fans lined the street four deep, with many weeping as they watched their hero take his final ride.

The family held a last service at Fawkner cemetery.

Meanwhile, South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced that the main straight of the Clipsal 500 street circuit in Adelaide is to be known as Brock Straight in honour of the motor racing legend.

The change had been agreed in talks between the State Government and the SA Motor Sport Board, Mr Rann said.